Scrap-charging box



Jan. 13, 1970 w. D. SMITH SCRAPCHARGING BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Filed March 22, 1353 //VVENTOR. WILL/AM 0. SMITH m A t torney Jan. 13, 1970 w. D. SMITH SCRAP-CHARGING BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1968 //VVE/VTOR. WILL/AM 0. SMITH y Ar forney United States Patent 3,489,299 SCRAP-CHARGING BOX William D. Smith, 14310 Parnell Ave., Harvey, Ill. 60426 Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 715,225 Int. Cl. F23k 23/00; B66c 17/08 US. Cl. 214--18 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to material handling equipment and more particularly has as its primary object the provision of an improved charging box for charging metal scrap into a steel making vessel.

It is a more specialized object of the invention to provide a scrap-charging box having lift trunnions on the sidewalls thereof adjacent one end and a pivotal lift bail attached to the sidewalls adjacent the opposite end of the box.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the scrapcharging box of the invention being used to charge a basic oxygen steel-making vessel;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the box of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the box of the invention showing the bail thereof in inoperative position; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines IV-IV of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 designates a transfer car mounted for movement along rails 4 adjacent an oxygen steel-making vessel 6. The transfer car 2 functions to carry the loaded scrap-charging box of the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 8, along the charging aisle of the steel-making facility adjacent the vessel 6. The box 8 of the invention is substantially rectangular in shape and is provided with a flat exterior bottom 10, opposed parallel sidewalls 12, and end wall 14 extending between the sidewalls 12 at one end thereof, and an interior which is generally U-shape in cross section, as best shown in FIG- URE 4. A discharge spout 16, which is also generally U-shape in cross-section, is formed on the end of the box remote from the end wall 14.

Opposed lift trunnions 18 project outwardly from the sidewalls 12 in a common longitudinal plane adjacent the end wall 14. A lift bail 20 is pivotally attached to the sidewalls 12 adjacent the spout 16. The bail 20 is adapted to pivot in an arc from an upright operative lifting position downward to an inoperative resting position toward the spout 16. A stop 22 projects outwardly from each of the sidewalls 12 to limit the downward movement of the bail 20 so that it may be readily engaged by the lift hook of a crane when in inoperative position.

In operation, the scrap-charging box 8, which is resting on a transfer car 2, is loaded with a predetermined amount of scrap by a magnet crane (not shown) in the scrap yard adjacent the steel making faciliity. The transfer car 2 with the loaded box 8 thereon is then moved along the rails 4 into the charging aisle adjacent the steelmaking vessel 6. The box is then picked up by an overhead crane having a pair of lift hooks 24 which engage the trunnions 18 and another lift hook 26, independently moveable, which engages the lift bail 20. The crane is then operated to manipulate the box 8 so that its spout 16 is inserted into the mouth of the tilted steel-making vessel 6, as best shown in FIGURE 1. After the vessel has been charged with the scrap from the box 8, the empty box is lowered onto the transfer car 2, the lift hook 26 moves the bail 20 to resting position against the stops 22 and is raised free of the bail while at the same time the lift hook 24 is lifted out of engagement with the trunnions 18. The transfer car then transports the empty charging box back out to the scrap yard where it can be reloaded.

Although I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for charging scrap into a steel-making vessel having an opening for receiving said scrap which comprises a substantially rectangular box having an open top, flat exterior bottom, spaced substantially parallel sidewalls extending longitudinally thereof, and an end wall extending between said sidewalls at one end thereof, a discharge spout at the end of said box opposite said end wall, said spout being adapted to fit into the scrap-receiving opening of said vessel, a lift trunnion projecting outwardly normal to each of said sidewalls in a common longitudinal plane adjacent said end wall and intermediate the top and bottom of said box, a U-shaped bail connected to said box only by pivot connections between the free ends of the legs of the U-shaped bail and the outer surfaces of said sidewalls adjacent said spout, said bail being pivotal in an are between an upright lifting position and a lowered inoperative position, first lifting means for engaging said trunnions, and second lifting means for engaging said bail independently of said first lifting means whereby said box can be moved between a horizontal position and a tilted position with the discharge spout at a lower elevation than the end wall.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said bail is dimensioned to clear the open top of said box when moved toward said spout to inoperative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 214316; 29473 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORBEfiTION Patent No. 3,489,299 January 13, 1970 William D. Smith It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and'4, "William D. Smith, 14310 Parnell Ave. Harvey, I11. 60426" shoul read William D. Smith, Harvey, 111., assignor to United State Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Signed and sealed this 17th day of November 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, 11

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

